Strawberry plant named `Idea`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of strawberry (species Fragaria) which is resistant to anthracnose (Colletotrcum actatium) is late ripening and has large conical berries with a bright orange-red color.

BACKGROWUND OF THE INVENTION

This new cultivar, named `Idea`, was selected in 1986 in a cultivated area in Cesena, Italy from the progeny of a cross made in 1984 between Sel 79.12.13 × `Etna`. The seed parent Sel 79.12.13 was a plant used only for its germplasm and was never released to the industry and is not the subject of a plant parent or application for a plant patent in the United States. The pollen parent `Etna` has been trialed at USDA, Beltsville, MD and at Whately, Mass. but never distinguished itself to be released in the United States and is not the subject of a plant patent or application for a plant patent in the United State. `Idea` has been asexually propagated by runner propagation, tissue culture and micropropagation. `Idea` has been asexually propagated in nurseries in Central Europe including Italy and in the United Kingdom and also in Massachusetts in the United States. `Idea` has been shown to be extremely stable in traditional plant propagation procedures for strawberries. There never has been a case reported of `Idea` not being stable is nurseries and fruit production trials.

The `Idea` variety id characteristically different from any other commercial variety in the United States today, including the California varieties. Its differentiating characteristics include its disease resistance, the lateness of fruiting, the berry color, and its large yield.

Comparison with Related Prior Art

The following are characteristics of `Idea` as compared to `Biomidon` (B), `Holiday` (HOL), `Honeoye` (HON) and `Jewel` (J):

    ______________________________________                    `IDEA`                          B      HOL    HON  J     ______________________________________     Habit   upright 1    2       3    1    3    2              Intermediate 2              Open 3     Vigor    1 to 5       4       4    3    3    3              Poor to High     Bed      1 to 5       3       4    2    4    4     Uniformity              Poor to High     Central  Roundish 1   1       2    2    2    1     Leaf     Elliptic/Round 2     Shape    Elliptic/Elongated 3     Central  Angular 1    3       2    1    3    3     Leaf     Concave 2     Section  Flat 3              Convex 4     Teeth    Pointed 1    2       2    1    2    1     Shape    Rounded 2     Teeth    Large 1      1       2    1    1    1     Size     Small 2     Teeth    High 1       1       1    2    1    1     Number   Medium 2              Low 3     Leaf Size              Large 1      2       2    1    2    2              Medium 2              Small 3     Leaf Base              Round 1      1       1    2    2    1              Tapered 2     Growth   Straight 1   1       1    1    2    1     Habit    Upright 2     Upper Leaf              Clear Green 1                           1       1    1    1    1     Surface  Dark Green 2     Upper Leaf              High 1       2       1    1    2    1     Surface  Medium 2     Glossiness              Low 3     ______________________________________

Comparison to Cultivars of U.S. Plant Pat. Nos. 1005 and 2,085

The following is a comparison of `Idea` with the cultivars of U.S. Plant Pat. Nos. 1,005 and 2,085:

    ______________________________________     IDEA           #1,005       #2,085     ______________________________________     Fruiting            Very Late   Early-Mid Season                                     Early-Mid Season     Season     Color    Bright Orange                           Glossy Bright Red                                       Bright Red            Red     Shape    Blocky, conical                          Uniformly conical                                       Globe, conical     Calyx    Embedded - not                        Not noted      Slightly embedded -              easily removed                                       (snaps easily)     Internal            Very Light Pink                          Red throughout                                       Deep, rich color     Color     Aroma    Slightly aromatic                          Not noted    Distinctly aromatic     Flavor   Sweet, pleasant                          Sweet, slightly tart                                       Pineapple flavor              taste            medium-good            strawberry flavor     Fruit    Fruit lays on                        Heavy upright                                       Strong and upright     Stems  ground     Leaf   Rounded       Sharp        Sharp     Serrations     Runner   Very numerous -                          15 or more per                                       Fairly numerous     Production              50-80 per mother                          mother     Seeds/-            Slightly recessed                          Non-conspicuous                                       Not noted     Achenes     ______________________________________

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1. shows the upper leaf surface of `Idea`.

FIG. 2. shows the lower leaf surface of `Idea`.

FIG. 3. shows the fruit of `Idea`.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Strawberry `Idea ` is a late ripening strawberry variety (season of the cv. `Dana`) with large conical beries having a bright orange-red skin color 5R, 5/10 (This color specification as well as the other color specifications employed in the description herein are those of the Munsell Color Chart for Plant Tissues, 2^(nd) edition, revised 1997.). The plant is highly vigorous, with terminal leaflets forming from obtuse to highly obtuse angles. Hairs on the petioles are perpendicular. Berries are large, conical, with an orange-red skin color, changes slightly recessed are or at skin surface level. It is a late ripening variety, June-bearing in the Italian Po valley and is not everbearing, It is resistant to most disease, in particular resistant to antracnose caused by Colletotricum actatium. `Idea` is further described as follows:

1) Habit.--Expanded.

2) Height.--High.

3) Maximum diameter.--Large.

4) Density.--High.

5) Vigor.--High.

Leaf:

6) Upper blade: main color.--Clear green (green-yellow 7.5GY, 3/4).

7) Upper blade: secondary color.--Absent.

8) Upper blade: brightness.--Intermediate.

9) Upper blade: outline.--Flat or concave.

10) Upper blade: curling.--Scarce or medium.

11) Vein emergence.--Medium.

12) Leaf margins.--crenate to rounded serrate.

13) Leaflets compared to the peduncle.--Horizontal.

14) Thickness.--Medium.

15) Upper blade pubescence.--Scarce.

16) Lower blade pubescence.--Scarce.

16A) Lower blade color.--light green 7.5GY, 8/2.

17) Leaflet number.--Three, occasionally more than three.

18) Terminal leaflet: length.--Medium.

19) Terminal leaflet: width.--Medium.

20) Terminal leaflet: length/width ratio.--A little longer than wide.

21) Terminal leaflet: basal angle.--From obtuse to very obtuse.

22) Terminal leaflet: basal shape.--U shape.

23) Terminal leaflet: teeth.--Crenate.

24) Terminal leaflet: secondary teeth.--Occasional.

Petiole:

25) Pebuscence.--Medium high, fine and numerous.

26) Hairs.--Perpendicular.

Stipules:

27) Red pigmentation.--Scarce.

28) Length.--Medium.

Stolons:

29) Number.--High.

30) Red pigmentation.--Present, especially in the first part of the filament.

31) Color.--Red.

32) Thickness.--Thick.

33) Pubescence.--Scarce.

34) Hair position.--Perpendicular.

Flower cluster:

35) Position compared to leaves.--Under.

Peduncle:

36) Length (flowers of third order).--Medium-short.

37) Thickness.--Medium-high.

38) Pubescene.--Scarce.

39) Hair position.--Perpendicular.

Flowers:

40) Sex.--Hermaphrodite.

41) Size.--Medium-large.

42) Calyx size related to corolla.--Same size.

43) Size of the upper calyx compared to the lower calyx.--Same size.

44) Calyx pubescence.--Medium.

Petals:

45) Number in primary flowers.--From 5 to 8.

46) Number in secondary flowers.--From 5 to 6.

47) Position of the margins.--Overlapping.

48) Length/width ratio.--As long as wide.

49) Basal angle.--Obtuse.

50) Undulation of the margins.--Medium.

Anthers:

51) Size.--Medium-large.

Fruit:

52) Length.--Medium.

53) Width.--High.

54) Maximum length/width ratio.--More wide than long.

55) Dimensions.--Large.

56) Shape.--early berries are generally blocky, slightly longer than wide, with a tendency toward being pointed whereas more mature berries are conical.

57) Difference in shape (between primary/secondary).--Very high.

58) Apex.--Flat or round.

59) Area without achenes.--Small or medium.

60) Ribs.--Medium or scarce.

61) Color.--Red-orange.

62) Color intensity.--High.

63) Color inensity.--High.

64) Brightness.--High.

65) Achenes position.--Slightly recessed or at berry surface level.

66) Calyx position.--Quite immersed.

67) Sepals.--Slightly reflexed.

68) Calyx size compared to fruit diameter.--Smaller.

69) Easy of calyx detachment.--Medium.

70) Flesh: firmness.--High.

71) Flesh: color.--Clear red.

72) Flesh: uniformity of color.--Quite uniform.

73) Flesh: sweetness.--Medium.

74) Flesh: acidity.--Medium.

75Flesh: flavor.--Medium-good.

76) Flesh; heart.--Medium-large.

77) Evidence of vascular bundles.--Medium.

Flowering season:

78) 50% of primary flowers open.--Late.

Harvest season:

79) 50% of the plants with ripe fruit.--Late.

80) Everbearing?--Non everbearing.

Further characteristic of `Idea` with reference to production in Whately, Mass. are as follows:

81) Fruit weight.--First pick: 37-41 grams/berry; average weight of season: 19-22 grams/berry.

82) Fruit yield.--About 30,000 pounds per acre.

83) Picking season begins.--June 25-28.

84) Picking season ends.--July 15-18.

85) Leaf length.--Average of 7.7 cm.

86) Leaf width.--Average of 7.2 cm.

87) Leaf margin.--Rounded serrations measuring 0.5 cm wide at the base for each.

88) Peitole length.--For mature leaves, a range of 20.3 to 26.5 cm.

89) Stolons per plant.--50-80 (range will vary with soil type, fertility and variations in management).

90) Bloom coloration.--Not a distinguishing characteristic.

Usefulness

This new cultivar is particularly well-suited for use by commercial fruit growers in areas similar to climate to the Italian Po Valley and to nothern areas (equivalent to Zones 4a to 6b). It is a late ripening variety which is disease resistant and particularly resistant to anthracnose (Colletotricum actatium). 

What is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct strawberry cultivar as herein described and illustrated. 